goalpost
goalpost Lexical Profile
goalpost Game Scores & Validity
• noun
One of the two vertical uprights that support the crossbar and form the goal structure in various field sports, such as soccer, rugby, and American football.
"The kicker missed the field goal when the ball struck the right goalpost and bounced back onto the field."
A target, standard, or criterion for success, frequently used figuratively to describe expectations that are unfairly altered.
"It is nearly impossible to satisfy the board of directors when they keep moving the goalposts for the company's annual revenue."
Word Nuance & Usage
While literally referring to sports equipment, it is heavily used in professional and political contexts in the idiom 'moving the goalposts', which means unfairly changing the criteria for success while a process is still ongoing.
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'goal' and 'post', originating in the mid-19th century as formal rules for sports like rugby and association football were being codified in England.